Williams not racist - Norman

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Sydney - Greg Norman insisted on Monday his one-time caddy Steve Williams is not racist as the New Zealander's slur about former boss Tiger Woods threatened to overshadow this week's Australian Open.

Williams, who was Woods' caddy for 13 of his 14 Major titles before being sacked earlier this year, referred to the former world number one as a "black arsehole" during an awards dinner on Friday night in Shanghai.

His remarks were widely condemned but his current employer, Australian Adam Scott, has refused to fire him and he is set to carry the world number eight's bag at this week's event in Sydney.

Woods is also playing but the possibility of Scott and Woods being paired up on Thursday and Friday has been ruled out.

"It has nothing to do with the incident that was spoken about over the weekend. It was never going to happen anyway. No chance," tournament director Tony Roosenburg told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

Norman, who is also playing in Sydney before captaining the International team at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne next week, said Williams needed to be cut some slack.

"Steve's not a racist," he said of a man who carried his bag for several years at the height of Norman's own career in the 1980s before being fired.

"We've all made stupid comments at stupid times. Unfortunately his stupid comment became global news. I know he probably regrets saying it.

"But I guarantee in that room that night there was probably some heavier things said.

"Because of the temperature that was going on between the two of them, anything that is said or not said is going to exacerbate whatever that feeling is.

"I hope it gets resolved. Golf doesn't need it. Golf needs Tiger back playing great golf like he used to."

Williams, 47, posted an online statement Saturday apologising to Woods and admitting his comments "could be construed as racist", while the US and European Tours have declared the matter closed.

Norman does not believe the controversy will affect Woods or Scott in Sydney.

"Adam's a professional. Whatever Steve has said is Steve's opinion. It's not Adam's opinion," he said.

"Steve obviously does a great job for Adam because Adam's played extremely well since Steve has been on his bag."

With the scandal rumbling on, Roosenburg admitted it sharpened interest in the Australian Open.

"It is a very sensitive subject and I'm certainly not commenting on that," he said about the Williams slur.

But he went on: "I don't think it's doing the Open any harm. Certainly not, it's adding another dimension.

"Was I looking for this sort of build-up? No, but you take it when you can get it. The Tuesday media conference (with Woods) will now be bigger than it was already."

Woods was in Perth over the weekend on private business and was expected in Melbourne Monday, reportedly for a round of golf with cricketer Shane Warne, his fiancee Liz Hurley, and media and gaming tycoon James Packer.

The troubled star has not won since the 2009 Australian Masters in Melbourne and will be hoping The Lakes course in Sydney can help turn around his fortunes.

The Australian Open also features Woods' fellow Americans Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, and Australians Geoff Ogilvy, the defending champion, and two-time major runner-up Jason Day.

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